Interchangeable Makeup Brush

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic brush with an elongated handle with an insert that receives a removable brush head. The insert in the handle that receives various brush heads in an interlocking relationship. The insert has a color-coded flange at the top of the handle and the brush head also has a color-coded collar at its base. Only brush heads with the same colored collar as the brush handle&#39;s flange can be received in an interlocking relationship with the handle. A ring on the insert is releasably latched into the brush head to retain the brush head in a latched relationship for use and can be pulled apart when the brush head is to be removed and replaced with an alternate brush head.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Background

The present invention relates generally to cosmetic application tools and, more particularly, to a brush with interchangeable brush heads.

2. Description of the Background

Personal care products are well known and widely used. These products have long been employed to cleanse, moisturize, deliver actives, or hide imperfections when applied to a surface by a user. A variety of cosmetics are available to provide beauty benefits to a face or head area of the user. Typically, cosmetic brushes are used to apply the variety of cosmetics to the user.

Known cosmetic brushes have brush heads that are fixed in size and shape to apply a specific type of cosmetic in a specific pattern to a specific portion of the head or face area. These brush heads extend from a handle and are made of natural or synthetic bundles of flexible bristles. Known cosmetic brushes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to address various surfaces and portions of the user's head or face area. Therefore, a user must store and maintain a wide variety of multiple brushes to apply different types of cosmetic in different patterns to different portions of the user. These cosmetic brushes can be bulky or small and easily misplaced.

There is therefore a need for a brush with interchangeable brush heads that allows a user to vary the type of brush head to be used while limiting the need for multiple brushes, thus drastically limiting the amount of space and storage needed for the cosmetic application tools.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a cosmetic brush is provided. The cosmetic brush may comprise an elongated handle with an open top in which an insert is mounted. The insert receives more than one type of brush head in an interlocking relationship. The brush head has a complementary locking base that is received in the insert. The insert has a color-coded flange at the top of the handle and the brush head also has a color-coded collar at its base. Only brush heads with the same colored collar as the handle's flange can be received in an interlocking relationship with the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, isometric view of a brush, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear exploded view of a handle and a brush head of the brush of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric view of the brush head of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is cross section exploded view of the handle and brush taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the brush taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a brush head.

FIG. 8 is a front, isometric view of an alternate brush utilizing the present invention in which the brush handle and brush head are of a thinner diameter than the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an alternate brush head to be received in the brush handle of the brush shown in FIG. 8

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a brush head to be received in the brush handle of the brush shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

As explained herein, the present disclosure provides brushes that comprise varying brush heads. In particular, a brush of the present disclosure includes a handle and an interchangeable brush head that is attached to a top end of the handle. The handle comprises a plurality of grooves and notches that slidably engages with complementary notches and grooves in the brush head to secure the handle and brush head together.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a brush 10 is shown in accordance with the present disclosure that may be formed through injection molding, woodworking, or other commonly known manufacturing methods to provide a handle that meets the requirements of the present disclosure. The brush 10 defines a handle 12 and an interchangeable brush head 14 slidably engaged with the handle 12. As will be discussed in further details herein, and as seen in the exploded view of FIG. 3, the brush head 14 is detachable from the handle 12 such that a different brush head may be attached to the handle 12 of the brush 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle 12 defines a body 16 having a circular cross section. The body 16 is defined by a first end 20 positioned at the bottom of the handle 12 and a second end 20 adjacent to the brush head 14. The first end 18 of the body 16 comprises a rounded edge 22 defining a blunt end of the handle 12. In alternative embodiments, the handle 12 may comprise a flat end or angled flat surface with a logo or symbol placed thereon. Further, it should be understood that the body 16 of the handle 12 may be any shape (e.g., square, ovate, polygonal, etc.) in cross section.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the body 16 of the handle 12 tapers outwardly from the first end 18 of the body 16 to the second end 20 of the body 16, defining a generally cone shape. As a result, the thickness and cross-sectional area of the body 16 at the first end 18 is smaller than the thickness and cross-sectional area of the body 16 at the second end 20. However, in alternative embodiments, the body may comprise the same thickness or the same cross-sectional area throughout the body 16. Additionally, the first end 18 and the second end 20 of the body 16 may comprise the same cross-sectional area while a portion of the body 16 between the first end 18 and the second end 20 may vary in cross sectional area. In preferred embodiments, the body 16 of the handle 12 may include one or more of logos, graphics, iconography, or text. It is contemplated that the body 16 may be formed from wood, bamboo, a metallic material, a ceramic, or another type of material.

Referring still to FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle 12 comprises an insert 24 attached to the second end 20 of the body 16. As will become more apparent upon further discussion herein, the insert 24 extends into a cavity 26 of the body 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a flange 28 extends around a perimeter of the insert 24 and is generally flush with the second end 20 of the body 16. The insert 24 is preferably made of a polymer and has a first color that is preferably molded into the insert 24 during manufacturing. Once the brush head 14 is attached to the handle 12, the flange 28 having the first color is the only portion of the insert 24 visible to a user.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the brush head 14 includes a ferrule or tapered neck 30 that extends from a rim 32 that defines a bottom end 34 of the brush head 14 to a top end 35. In preferred embodiments, a plurality of bristles 36 extend outwardly from the top end 35 of the brush head 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the bristles 36 taper outwardly from the top end 35 of the brush head 14 to an end point 38 at the tips of the bristles 36. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the brush head 14 may include any type of material format in place of or in addition to the plurality of bristles 36 (e.g., silicone strands, plastic strands, sponge strands, etc.).

Further, the brush head 14 may include any of the following: long, flat bristles and a tapered tip that can be used for applying foundation; soft, full, and rounded bristles that can be used for applying powder, fine bristles with a rounded head that can be used for applying blush; natural and fluffy bristles that can be used for applying bronzer; soft and flat bristles with a pointed tip that could be used for applying concealer; thick and rounded bristles that can be used for applying mineral powder, a sponge material, synthetic bristles, natural bristles, or another type of application material not specifically listed herein. Furthermore, the brush head 14 may be of varying shapes as seen in the alternate brush heads illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Referring still to FIGS. 5 and 6, the top end 35 of the ferrule 30 retains the plurality of bristles 36 in the desired shape or confirmation. It is contemplated that the plurality of bristles 36 are attached to the brush head 14 by way of an adhesive, compression or other attachment means. As noted herein, the plurality of bristles 36 may comprise any shape or length, and the plurality of bristles may extend from the ferrule 30 in any configuration known in the art. Further, one or more of the plurality of bristles may comprise a different shape or configuration than the other plurality of bristles.

Referring to FIG. 5, the brush 10 is illustrated in an exploded view, separating the handle 12 from the brush head 14. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the insert 24 in the handle 12 is shown more clearly. In particular, the insert 24 includes a body 40 extending upwardly from the flange 28. The insert 24 also includes a sleeve or lower portion 42 below the flange 28 that extends into the cavity 26. The body 40 defines a generally cylindrical shape defining a circular cross section with a flat top end or head 44. Below the flat top or head 44 is a shoulder 46 that extends downward and terminates in a ring or protrusion 48 of greater diameter than the flat top 44 and shoulder 46. Below the ring or protrusion 48 is a notch or indentation 50 which extends around a bottom portion of the body 40 and above the flange 28 and is of lesser diameter than the ring 48 and may be of the same or lesser diameter than the shoulder 46. As such, the body 40 has two different diameters throughout that are both inset from the flange 28. The flat top 44, shoulder 46 and notch 50 are of a first diameter and the ring or protrusion 48 are of a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. In some embodiments the flat top 44, shoulder 46 and notch 50 may be of different diameters, but they should all be less than the second diameter of the ring 48. In preferred embodiments, the body 40 is preferably formed from a polymer or plastic material.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ferrule 30 in the brush head 14 has an open bottom defined by the rim 32 and bottom end 34. Inside of the ferrule 30 is a second cavity 52. A socket 54 is mounted in the second cavity 52 which has an opening 56 in the bottom. A neck 58 surrounds the opening 56. Around the opening 56 and surrounding the neck 58 is a collar or second flange 60. Above the neck 58 and in communication with the neck 58 is a channel 62 which extends around the perimeter of the inside of the socket 54. Above the channel 62, and in communication with the channel 62 is a chamber or hollow 64 that terminates at a base 66 in the socket 54. The socket 54 is preferably made from plastic or other polymer. The socket 54 and particularly the collar or second flange 60 is made from a material having the same color as the insert 24 and especially the flange 28, Alternatively the collar or second flange can have the same color painted on it.

The diameter of neck 58 in the opening 56 is large enough to easily allow the flat top 44 and shoulder 46 of the body to enter the opening 56 but is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ring or protrusion 48. However, the dimensions and materials of the ring or protrusion 48 and the neck 58 is such that by the application of a small force applied in the direction of arrow “A” between the handle 12 and brush head 14, the ring or protrusion 48 will be forced over the neck 58 with the ring or protrusion snapped in place and received in a releasable locking relationship within the channel 60. The flat top or head 44 is received in the chamber 64. In order to remove the brush head 14 from the handle 12, an opposite pulling force in the direction of arrow “B” is applied to the handle 12 and brush head 14 to overcome the resistance between the neck 58 interfering with the ring 48 as the two are pulled apart. Alternatively, the handle 12 can be held stationary and the brush head 14 can be pushed onto the handle 12 in the direction opposite the arrow “A” to attach it and can be pulled off the handle 12 to be removed.

The ring 48 may alternatively be comprised of a plurality of tabs (not illustrated) that may be of rectangular shape. These replace the circular ring 48. The tabs may be offset with respect to each other and are spaced out around the body 40 where the ring would be located. The tabs will function in the same manner as the ring or protrusion 48.

In preferred embodiments, the body 40 and the handle 12 may comprise different materials. For example, and as described above, the body 40 may be formed from a polymer or plastic material while the handle body 16 of the handle 12 is formed from wood. In alternative embodiments, the body 40 and the handle body 16 may comprise the same material.

It is contemplated that the body 40 may comprise any shape or cross section. For example, the body 40 may comprise a square, ovate, or polygonal cross section. In alternative embodiments, the body 40 may comprise hooks or latches that engage a portion of the brush head 14 to lock the brush head 14 to the handle 12.

It is preferable for the insert 24 and the socket 54 be manufactured from a polymer of the same color so that when the handle 12 and the brush head 14 are mounted together, the flange 28 and the collar 50 abut each other and present two visually adjacent rings of the same color. Furthermore, other brushes that are designed to be mounted on the handle 12, such as alternative brush head 68 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, have the same color collar 60 as the collar 60 of the brush head 14. The internal dimensions of the collar 54 in the brush head 68 are the same as the internal dimensions of the collar 54 in the brush head 14. The collar 60 in the brush head 68 is also the same color as the flange 28. In this manner various brushes that are intended to be used with the handle 12 will all have the same socket so that they can be mounted on the body 40. The color coding of the flange 28 and the collars 60 enable the user to easily select brush heads that are intended to be used with a specific handle.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate embodiment brush 70 of different diameter thickness than the brush 10 of the first embodiment. There is a brush handle 72 has a smaller diameter than the handle 12. Alternate brush heads 74, 76 are also of lesser diameter than the brush head 14. The brush heads 74, 76 are intended for applying cosmetics that are different than the cosmetics that brush head 14 is intended to apply. Handle 72 has an insert 78 that is smaller in diameter than the insert 24 of the first embodiment. Likewise, socket 80 is of lesser diameter than socket 54. There is a flange 82 on the insert 78 and a collar 84 on the socket 80 which are of the same color, but a different color than the flange 28 and collar 60 of the first embodiment. As the dimensions of the insert 78 is different than the dimensions of the insert 24, and the dimensions of the socket 80 are different than the dimensions of the socket 54, the brush head 14 cannot be mounted on the handle 72 and the brush heads 74 and 76 cannot be mounted on the handle 12. The color coding of the collars and flanges further assist the user in only selecting brush heads than have a colored collar that matches the colored flange on the handle on which it is intended to be mounted.

Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the application are reserved. 

I claim:
 1. A cosmetic brush assembly, comprising: a handle and a brush head; the handle having a top end and a bottom end; the brush head having bristles at an upper end and a collar at a lower end; the lower end of the brush head attached to the top end of the handle; a circular flange having a first color at the top end of the handle; a circular collar at the lower end of the brush head and having the same first color; releasable locking means in the brush head and handle for releasably locking the handle to the brush head; whereby the circular flange and the circular collar are adjacent to each other when the handle is mounted to the brush head.
 2. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a cavity in the handle, the cavity having an open top for receiving an insert.
 3. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 2 wherein the insert comprises a lower end and an upper end, the lower end received in the cavity, and the upper end extending above the top end of the handle.
 4. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 3 wherein the insert further comprises a ring or protrusion around the upper end of the insert and above the circular flange.
 5. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 4 wherein the circular flange has a flat under surface that engages the top end of the handle when the insert is mounted in the cavity.
 6. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 1 wherein the brush head has a brush head cavity, the cavity having an open bottom at a base of the brush head, for receiving a socket.
 7. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 6 wherein the socket comprises a base, an open bottom, and collar around the open bottom, and a channel above the collar for receiving the ring or protrusion when the handle is mounted to the brush head.
 8. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 6 wherein the ring or protrusion, collar and channel are cylindrical and the diameter of the ring or protrusion is greater than the diameter of the collar by an amount that allows the ring or protrusion to pass over the collar when a linear force sufficient to overcome the frictional force between the ring or protrusion and the collar is applied between the handle and the brush head, thereby allowing the ring or protrusion to be inserted in a releasably locking relations with the channel.
 9. The cosmetic brush assembly of claim 8 wherein the channel has a channel diameter that is greater than the diameter of the ring or protrusion for allowing the ring or protrusion to be received in the channel when the linear force sufficient to overcome the frictional force between the ring or protrusion and the collar is applied between the handle and the brush head, thereby allowing the ring or protrusion to be inserted in the channel.
 10. A cosmetic brush set comprising: a handle and a brush head; the handle having a top end and a bottom end; the brush head having bristles at an upper end and a collar at a lower end; the lower end of the brush head attached to the top end of the handle; a circular flange having a first color at the top end of the handle; a circular collar at the lower end of the brush head and having the same first color; releasable locking means in the brush head and handle for releasably locking the handle to the brush head; a second brush head having a second configuration of bristles at the second brush head's upper end and a second collar at a second brush head's lower end; the second collar having the same dimensions and color as the circular collar; whereby the second brush head can be mounted on the handle.
 11. A cosmetic brush set comprising: a handle and a brush head; the handle having a top end and a bottom end; the brush head having bristles at an upper end and a collar at a lower end; the lower end of the brush head attached to the top end of the handle; a circular flange having a first color at the top end of the handle; a circular collar at the lower end of the brush head and having the same first color; releasable locking means in the brush head and handle for releasably locking the handle to the brush head; a second brush head having a second configuration of bristles at the second brush head's upper end and a second collar at a second brush head's lower end and second releasable locking means identical to the releasable locking means in the brush head; the second collar having the same dimensions and color as the circular collar; whereby the second brush head can be mounted on the handle. 